‘They told me: Either you’ll be deported, or you’ll join the army’ – Uzbek student sentenced for fighting in Ukraine while studying in Moscow

According to court documents accessed by Kun.uz, A.X., a resident of the Qoshtepa district born in 2002, traveled to Moscow on November 30, 2022, for educational purposes. While studying at a private higher education institution, he was detained by police for lacking valid residence documents. At the police station, he was presented with three choices: deportation, criminal charges, or joining the Russian army in exchange for citizenship.

On August 23, 2023, A.X. signed a one-year contract with the Russian Armed Forces for a salary of 350,000–400,000 rubles per month. After undergoing military training, he participated in combat operations in Luhansk from October 13, 2023, to February 2024.

In court, A.X. admitted his guilt and shared details of his experience: “While studying in Moscow, I worked seasonal jobs to make ends meet. In the summer of 2023, I was detained for not having valid residence documents. The police told me I had no choice: either face deportation and criminal charges or join the Russian army and receive citizenship. I voluntarily agreed.”

He further explained that he was taken to a recruitment center, where he signed the contract. After training in Tolyatti, Samara region, he was deployed to the Russia-Ukraine border and subsequently participated in military operations in Luhansk and Donetsk.

A.X. sustained combat injuries and was treated in a hospital until February 26, 2024. Upon returning to his military unit, he used his earnings to purchase a car and an apartment on a mortgage loan in Tolyatti. He was also awarded a medal and granted Russian citizenship.

However, on September 14, 2024, A.X. left the military unit without permission to register his car. Following insults from his commander, he decided to terminate the contract and returned to Uzbekistan.

In court, A.X. expressed regret for his actions and explained that he had joined the army out of necessity to pay for his mother’s cancer treatment and surgery. He requested leniency.

The court found A.X. guilty under Article 154, Part 1 (mercenary) of the Criminal Code and sentenced him to 5 years of imprisonment. However, under Article 72 of the Criminal Code, the punishment was suspended, and a probationary period of 3 years was imposed.